kintner



PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

C. J. KINTNBR.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1899. RENEWED MAY 19. 1902..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

THE NORRIS PETCR$ o0 FHO'YO-LITHQ, WA$HINGTON. by c.

PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904 "0. J. KINTNER.

v ELECTRIC RAILWAY. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1899. RENEWED MAY 19. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

HHlHIli- I I UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

Y PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,619, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed September 22, 1899. Renewed May 19. 1902, Serial No. 108.052. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. KINTNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the borough of Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have made a new and useful Invention in Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is directed particularly to improvements in that type of electric railways in which sectional electrical conductors are adapted to be automatically connected to an insulated current feeder or main through the agency of switches located in water-tight switch-boxes, the automatic connection being effected through the mechanical agency of a traveling trolley-such for instance, as is disclosed in United States Patent No. 512,444, granted to me'on the 9th day of Jan uary,1894- and its objects are, first, to devise a system of sectional trolley conductors or cables with switch connections for connecting the same successively to and through switches in water'tight switch-boxes with an insulated current feeder or main in such manner that the entire system shall be of a flexibleor yielding nature, so as to avoid, as far as possible, the damaging impact action of a moving trolley over the sectional conductors or cables and other operative parts; second, to provide means whereby the flexible or yielding sectional conductors or cables may be tightened oradjusted at will in such manner as to obtain the best results under all conditions of temperature and usage and without necessarily interfering with the traffic of the road; third, to provide means for affording to linemen during an inspection of the apparatus an instantaneous indication of the fact that the sectional conductors or cables are normally disconnected at the'switches from the current feeder or main and without opening the water-tight switch-boxes in which the switches are inclosed; fourth, to provide hand-switches for the switch-boxes in which the circuit-interrupting parts of the switches are wholly inclosed within the switch-boxes and the operating parts or handles thereof are located without the switch-boxes and the circuit connections so arranged that the branch current-feeders connected to the on rrent-main may be interrupted when it is desired to adjust or repair any of the switches, the sectional trolley-conductors, or other operative parts, and this Without opening the switchboxes; fifth, to provide means for givinga 'visual indication of the condition of the interior of the switch-boxes as to any liquids which may be contained therein and also additional means for giving a visual indication of the condition of the switches without opening the boxes.

My invention will be fully understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the apparatusillustrating a conducting-trolley in the act of passing over one of the flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables and between a pair of yieldingly-sustained switches in such manner that said sectional trolley conductor or cable, and hence the trolley,is connected electrically with the insulated current feeder or main. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the application of this form of my invention to a directand return insulated current feeder or main, the switch-boxes being located in opposite sides of the conduit. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. l as seen looking from the top toward the bottom of the drawings, the surrounding conduit and the trolley being removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the invention with the sectional trolley conductors or cables located to one side of the slot, so as to permit of the ready cleaning of the conduit through the slot, the manner of yieldingly supporting the flexible trolley conductors or cables and their sustaining-arms being also somewhat difierent from the manner of supporting the same, in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4 as seen looking from the top toward the bottom of the drawings, the particular form of trolleyillustrated in Fig. 4 being dispensed with in this figure of the, drawings and the tops of the switch-box and its surrounding or protecting box being removed for the purpose of illustrating the interior structure of the parts. Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the switch-boxes as seen looking at Fig. 5 from the bottom toward the top of the drawings, the surrounding or protecting box being removed and the ends of two adjacent trolley-conductors being shown as connected to their curved operating-arms, a part of the details of the structure being illustrated in dotted lines.

In that general type of sectional trolleyconductors in which the same are mechanicallyconnected to an insulated current feeder or main it has been customary heretofore, so far as I am aware, to always construct each sectional trolley-conductor of an approximately rigid inflexible rod or bar and to cause the rod or bar to move vertically by the action of the overrunning trolley and to be restored to its normal position by the action of springs, weights, or the like, or such sectional trolley-conductors or bars are permanently and rigidly supported at definite intervals and automatically connected to the current feeder or main by the impact action of the trolley against switching-levers as it passes by or over the switches at the switchboxes. Such a structure is shown and described in my prior patent above referred to. All such structures, however, are open to the objection that there is great mechanical wear and tear upon the parts when the car or vehicle moves at rapid rates due to this impact action; and my present improvement has for its chief object, as before indicated, the construction of a system in which this wear and tear shall be as far as 'possible avoided or minimized by making the sectional trolley conductors or cables of wires or wire cables of a flexible nature and supporting the same, preferably, upon curved pivoted arms, which are in turn held by adjustable flexible or yielding springs, so that the flexible conductors or cables are normally heldin a taut or strained condition and in such manner that their attached switching springs or contacts located in the switchboxes shall be normally out of contact with the fixed or stationary contact-plates electrically connected with the insulated current feeder or main, all of the parts being so effectually insulated that there will be no current-leakage from the current feeder or main when the flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables and their attached switches are in normal or open position and a minimum amount of leakage when said sectional conductors or cables and switches are being actuated by the moving trolley, the arrangement being such that in the event of any short circuit or ground through any one of the sectional trolley conductors or cables fuses located outside the switch-boxes will be blown, thereby leaving the switching mechanism within the boxes always intact and accessible only when it becomes necessary to open the boxes. I also provide a flexible or yieldingly-sustained trolley,which in its yielding action opposes the yielding action of the flexible trolley conductors or ca- Referring now to the drawings in detail for a full and clear understanding of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and use the same, and first to Fig. 1, 0 represents a slotted conduit, such as is now in general and well-known use, and O a protecting or surrounding conduit at the bottom thereof for a lead-covered or other insulated current feeder or main F, running to a source of current-supply, (not shown,) but located at the power-house or elsewhere along the road, as desired. This current feeder or main F is electrically connected at intervals of from thirty to fifty feet, or more or less, as the grades or curvature of the road may require, by insulated branch current feeders or mains F F F &c., which terminate in stationary switching contact-plates D D D located in and effectually insulated from metallic switch-boxes B B B which may in turn be effectually insulated from the road bed. Within each switch-box is located a pair of rock-shafts d d, d (i &c., insulated from the switch-boxes and journaled at their opposite ends, as shown in Fig. 3. At each end of the rock-shafts d d, d CF, in its corresponding switch-box B, is located a yield ing or spring contact 25, made, preferably, of steel and copper brazed together with the copper surface on the lower side and bent to the proper curvature, as shown in Fig. 1. Attached to or constituting a part of the rock-shafts d d d d are curved arms L L L L L L the arms L,L ,and L being forked, as shown, so that the outer or rounded ends of the arms L L L will pass down through the forked opening when held downward by the trolley. The arms L and L are provided with cross-pins, as shown, adapted to cause the forked arms L L &c., to rotate when held against them. These curved arms have shoulders G G G G 850., adapted when held in their normal position to rest against back-stops e e e, &c., secured between the switch-boxes D D. S, S, S, S S and S are strong spiral springs having theirouter ends connected by eyes 10 directly to the curved arms L L L L L L and their other ends connected to turnbuckles, which in turn are connected to arms P P P, the arrangement being such that when the springs are properly adjusted and the flexible sectional conductors or cables W" W W properly secured to the ends of the corresponding pairs of curved arms all of the yielding or spring contacts 15 it will be out of contact with their corresponding stationary contact-plates D D D 850., the tendency of the springs S S S S S 8*", 850., being to move the curved arms L L L L L L &c., in the direction of the arrows and to maintain the sectional conductors or cables in a taut or strained condition. To prevent any wrecking influence from the action of the strong spiral springs as the trolley passes off of the curved arms in either direction, dash-pots may be provided either within the switch-boxes and attached. to the rock-shafts d d and acting in the oil, or such dash-pots may be in the nature of air dash-pots, attached in any preferred manner to the arms L L L L L L their function being to allow the arms to be gradually restored to their normal position without damage or wrecking action. The ends of the flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables W W W are firmly secured to their corresponding curved arms L L 650., in any preferred manner and are connected by insulated conductors passing through the rock-shafts d 01 to their corresponding yielding spring-contacts t t, the proper fuses beingincluded in circuit between said ends and the points where the conductors enter the switch-boxes. T is a grooved conducting trolley-wheel journaled in the lower end of a trolley-arm E, properly insulated at its sides with relation to the slotted conduit 0 and secured in a vertical slideway in the bottom of the car, (not shown,) 3 being a strong spiral spring for giving a yielding downward movement to the trolley against the yielding sectional trolley conductors or cables W W W as it passes over them. The several switch-boxes are either wholly or partially filled with oil, as shown. The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: Suppose the car (not shown) to be moving from left to right, the trolleywheel resting upon the flexible sectional trolley conductor or cable W and therefore holding the curved arm L in its forward position against the retractile force of the spring S, thus causing the yielding springcontact t to come into contact with the stastrong spiral spring, permits the curved arm.

L to be drawn still farther forward until the trolley rides up on the inclination of the curved arm L ultimately causing the same to move downward, so that it makes contact the curved arm L and allows the two strong spiral springs S S to restore said arms in the direction of the arrows, and hence the yielding or spring contacts t t, to their normal condition out of contact with their respective stationary contact-plates D D, thus disconnecting the sectional trolley conductor or cable W from the current feeder or main and without arcing by reason of the presence of oil in the switch-boxes and also because the trolley T left the end of the sectional conducductor or cable W before the circuit was ruptured at the switches. It will be understood that the car or vehicle may move in a reverse direction, the action of the trolleywheel upon the curved ends of the arms L, L and L being readily understood on inspection .of the drawings.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have illustrated the application of this form of the invention to a double-cnrrent-feeder system, in which H H represent the supports for the and insulated current feeders or mains F F, corresponding switch-boxes B B, stationary contact plates D D, rock shafts d d, and movable spring-contacts t t, as before, together with curved arms L L, springs S S, turnbuckles b 12, secured to the arms P P, the flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables (not shown) being attached to the outer ends of said arms, as before, and the particular details of construction being substantially the same, except that a double trolley E is provided with two trolley-wheels T T and the necessary circuit connections for conveying the current to the motor and return, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. With this arrangement also it is made possible to readily clean the interior of the conduit 0 through the slot in the usual manner.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the curved arms L L L L &c., are arranged in pairs with their curved ends extending toward each other and the sectional conductors or cables flexibly supported by said arms and maintained in a taut or strained condition, as will be hereinafter described, the yielding efiect of the pairs of said conductors being produced by corresponding pairs of strong spiral springs S S and tnrnbuckles b b, secured to the ends of lovers on the inner ends of the rock-shafts d d. The curved arms L L, &c., are so located as to cross but be out of mechanical contact with each other and with their ends in alinement, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and the sectional conductors or cables'W W are supported upon the outer ends thereof upon blocks of insulating material 6 e, the inner ends ofsaid sectional conductors running downward to and through the rockshafts d d, which are preferably insulated on their inner surfaces with insulating-tubing. The inner ends of said sectional conductors or cables which pass through the hollow rockshafts dd are also insulated and are connected to winches w w, jonrnaled in lugs on the outer faces of the switch boxes, said winches having ratchet-teeth 7"! and hooked pawls p p for holding them in any desired position, the winches being provided with means for adapting them to be rotated by a wrench, all of said parts being so arranged that the sectional conductors or cables may be subjected to a definite tension or strain before the final adjustment thereof is effected by and through the agency of the strong spiral springs S S and adjusting devices or turnbuckles b I). These hollow rock-shafts d d are preferably from 10 to 12 inches in interior diameter at their journal-bearings, so as to give perfectly free access with both hands to an attendant in manipulating the sectional conductors and in attaching the fuses f thereto and to the branch conductors c, which run from said sectional conductors through the rock-shafts to the rotary or movable spring-contacts t. The arms L L, &c., are also preferably insulated exteriorly and interiorly, and those ends of the trolley-conductors extendingtherethrough toand around the winches w w are also covered with insulating material, said insulating material being broken or ruptured at the points where the fuses fare attached and again covered with insulating-tape or in any preferred manner after the sectional conductors are properly adjusted as to tension, &c. The stationary contact-plates D D, &c., are connected in this instance by hand-switches h 8, having snap-acting circuit-interrupting contacts located wholly inside the switch-boxes and operating-handles therefor located wholly without said switch-boxes and so arranged as to connect with branch feeders F F ,&c., running to the main current-feeder F, the arrangement being such that the switches may be opened when it is desired to change the adjustment or effect repairs in connection with the system without opening or entering the switch-boxes. To the outer ends of the rockshafts d d are secured indicators or pointers I I, so arranged that when the proper adjustments are effected and the sectional conductors or cables W W placed under proper tension through the agency of the winches w w and the strong spiral springs S S and turnbuckles b b the indicators will point directly toward each other, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, thus giving to an attendant or lineman an obvious indication of the fact that the movable springcontacts t t are out of contact with the stationary contact-plates D D. The switchboxes are each provided with a cock V, located at the bottom thereof and operatively connected by a glass or other transparent indicator g in such manner that when the boxes are filled with oil the height thereof will be properly indicated in the indicator g, the arrangement also being such that should any water accumulate in the bottoms of the switch-boxes it will be displayed in the indicator and may be drawn off by the proper cock. In this form of the invention I have illustrated a novel form of trolley, in which the arm E may be either supported or sustained by a yielding spring, if preferred, the yielding effect of the trolley as it reaches the several curved arms L L L 860., being produced by the pivotal motion of double trol ley-wheels T T, supported each upon a conducting-arm pivoted at the lower end of the armE and provided with adjustable springs s s. In this form of the apparatus as the trolley advances, say, from left to right the trolley-wheels T T pass over the curved arms L L, and the yielding action of the double trolley, together with the yielding action of the flexible conductors W W and the springsustained rock-shafts, is such that the entire system is very flexible and will not be subjected to the usual wear and tear attributable to switching devices mechanically actuated by a trolley or an arm carried by the car or moving vehicle. The several switch-boxes in this form of the invention are located in one side of the conduit and the trolley-arm and its attached parts correspondingly cu rved to one side, so as to adapt it to pass over the sectional conductors, which are, by reason of their lateral location, out of alinement with the slot. These switch-boxes are each surrounded by a protecting-casing B secured also to the side of the conduit and provided with a cover, the arrangement being such that for inspection it is only necessary to remove the cover, so that an attendant may readily perceive on examination of the indicator I that the circuit connections are properly made, and this can be effected without interfering with traffic, the protecting-boxes and the outer sides of the switch-boxes being preferably at points outside the tram-rails. The several switch-boxes are filled with oil through a screw-capped opening 0 at the top of each. These switch-boxes are also preferably made in halves, with the rock-shafts d d journaled in the lower half and held in place in proper journal-bearings,which may, if preferred, be insulated from the boxes, the upper halves B of the boxes being secured to the lower halves by bolts and provided with rubber or other gaskets for making them water and oil tight.

Another important feature of my invention lies in the connecting of the sectional conductors at their opposite ends to branch conductors, which run into the switch boxes through fuses in such manner that the switching parts of the apparatus are wholly concealed within switch-boxes and that the fuses can be replaced when blown without opening the switch-boxes, such aconstruction making it impossible to short-circuit the main current feeder or feeders and at the same time making it possible to quickly replace the fuses without opening the switch-boxes. Another important feature lies in locating the fuses in the hollow rock-shafts or wholly without the switch-boxes, so that they are always accessible, and in inclosing them therein, if preferred, in transparent insulating-tubes, such as mica, which are perfectly water-tight, so that the condition of the fuses may be always ascertained on visual inspection without opening the switch-boxes or in any way dlS',

tu rbing the switch-contacts.

I do not limit myself to the especial details of construction herein shown and described for effecting the mechanical connection of flexible sectional trolley-conductors with a permanently-insulated current feeder or main through the agency of curved pivoted switching-arms like those shown and described in the accompanying drawings, as I believe I am broadly entitled to claim the combination of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables flexibly supported'in a taut or strained condition and connected to switching devices in such manner that by the action of a moving trolley said flexible sectional conductors are automatically connected to an insulated current feeder or main, and my claims are generic as to this feature without regard to any especial means or devices for effecting such result. I believe it is also broadly new with me to combine flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables with yieldinglysupported switching devices, a current feeder or main, and aflexibly-supported trolley in such manner that the entire system is flexible, and my claims are also generic as to this feature, the essential novelty of my invention lying in the flexibility of the entire system, which is in the first instance effectedthrough the agency of flexibly-supported sectional trolleyconductors or cables and in the second instance with such sectional trolley-conductors and a flexiblysupported trolley; nor do I limit myself to the use of such a system of flexible sectional trolley-conductors, switching devices, and a flexibly-supported trolley with an insulated current feeder or main located in a slotted conduit, as the same might obviously be used in connection with a system of overhead or laterally-supported conductors andwithout the use of a slotted conduit, such a system of conductors being obviously a safety system which would not normally endanger public life or property, and my claims are therefore generic as to the use of my novel system without regard to any especial application thereof.

As an obvious modified manner of flexibly supporting or sustaining the flexible trolley.

conductors or cables W W W in such manner as to be always maintained in a taut or strained condition I may substitute weights and wire cables for the strong spiral springs S S S S S S, &c., said cables being attached to the curved arms, the adjustability being eifected by adding more or less weight, as may be required. With the use of weights for thus maintaining the sectional conductors or cables always in a taut or strained condition it is further to be noted that the system is entirely self-compensating for extreme changes of temperature.

I am aware that prior to the date of the filing of this application for a patent electric railways had been devised having a current feeder or main and a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables normally electrically disconnected therefrom and provided with switching mechanism for effecting electrical connection between said sectional conductors and the current feeder or main, andI make no claims hereinafter broad enough to include such a structure, my most generic claim in this particular being directed to the feature of flexible conductors when combined with a current feeder or main and switching mechanism, said flexible sectional trolley-conductors being provided with yielding means for normally maintaining them in a taut or strained condition, so that the trolley in passing thereover or thereunder, as may be, will always encounter the same working conditions during diflerent seasons of the year and under all conditions of usage.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables and switching devices for operatively connecting said sectional conductors to the insulated current feeder or main, in combination with flexible or yielding means for normally maintaining the sectional conductors in a taut or strained condition and out of electrical connection with the current feeder or main.

2. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables each mechanically connected to a pivoted switching-arm provided with a switching contact plate located therein and connected to the 1 current feeder or main, in combination with flexible or yielding means operatively so connected to the switching-arms as to maintain the sectional trolley-conductors connected thereto in a taut or strained condition and to hold said switching-arms normally so that the movable switching contacts are out of electrical contact with the stationary con tactplates. t

3. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables each mechanically and electrically connected with pivoted switching-arms and yielding contacts located in Water-tight switch-boxes, in con1- bination with an insulated fixed or stationary contact-plate in each switch-box electrically connected with the currentfeeder or main; together with flexible or yielding means operatively connected with the switching-arms and adapted to hold them in such positions that the sectional trolley-cond uctors are always maintained in a taut or strained condition and normally disconnected from the current feeder or main. y 4. In an electric-railway system an insu: lated current feeder or main and a series of IIO water-tight electrical switch-boxes each inclosing a fixed or stationary contact-plate electrically connected with the current feeder or main; in combination with a series of flexible sectional conductors or cables, one between each pair of switch-boxes, said sectional conductors or cables being supported by pivoted arms and each provided with flexible or yielding means for normally maintaining the sectional conductors or cables out of electrical connection with the insulated current feeder or main; together with adjustable means for tightening or varying the flexibility of the sectional conductors or cables.

5. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables normally electrically disconnected therefrom, and provided with flexible or yielding means for normally maintaining them in a taut or strained condition, in combination with switches located in water-tight switch-boxes and adapted to connect said sectional conductors to the current feeder or main as a car passes over the road; together with a visual indicator at each switch-box for giving visual indication of the fact that the sectional trolley-conductors are normally disconnected from the current feeder or main.

6. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables normally electrically disconnected therefrom, and provided with flexible or yielding means for normally maintaining them in a taut or strained condition, in combination with switching mechanism adapted to connect said sectional trolley-conductors to the current feeder or main as a car passes over the road; together with a visual indicator at each switch for indicating the fact that the sectional trolley-conductors are normally electrically disconnected from the current feeder or main.

7. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of sectional trolley-conductors, a series of switching devices for electrically connecting said sectional trolley-conductors to and disconnecting them from the current feeder or main, said switching devices being located in watertight switch-boxes, in combination with a hand-switch between the current feeder or main and the stationary contact-plate of each switch for temporarily interrupting the circuit at the switches during repairs or inspection, the circuit-interrupting portion-of said switch being inclosed within the switch-box and the operatinghandle therefor located outside of the box and at an accessible point for operating it without opening the box.

8. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main; a series of sectional trolley-conductors and a series of water-tight switch-boxes provided with switching means inclosed therein for connecting the sectional trolley-conductors to and disconnecting them from the current feeder or main;

in combination with means for giving a visual indication of any liquid which may be contained within the boxes; together with additional visual indicators forindicating the condition of the switches.

9. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables operatively connected to means for maintaining them in a taut or strained condition and provided with switching devices for operatively connecting them to and disconnecting them from the current feeder or main; said switch ing devices being inclosed in watertight switch-boxes, in combination with one or more automatic cut-out devices for each sectional trolley-conductor, the arrangement being such that the cut-out devices may be inspected or restored withoutopening the switchboxes.

10. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main electrically connected with switching devices located in water-tight switch-boxes, in combination with a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables mechanically supported by pivoted arms attached to hollow rock-shafts journaled in said switch-boxes; together with means located on one side of said switch-boxes for regulating the tension and flexibility of the sectional conductors or cables.

11. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main electrically connected with switching devices located in water-tight switch-boxes, in combination wit-h a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables mechanically supported by pivoted arms attached to hollow rock-shafts journaled in said switch-boxes, together with means located at one side of said switch-boxes for regulating the tension and flexibility of the sectional trolley conductors or cables and additional yielding means for normally holding the switching devices out of circuit with the current feeder or main.

12. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main and a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables yieldingly supported and provided with switching devices for electrically connecting them with the current feed er or main; in combination with a yieldingly-supported trolley adapted to actuate the switching devices and successively connect the sectional trolley conductors or cables to the current feeder or main as a car or vehicle passes over the road.

13. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main electrically connected by insulated branch feeders to a series of stationary contact-plates located at intervals along the road and inclosed in watertight switch-boxes filled with a liquid insulating medium, as oil, in combination with a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables connected to movable switching devices located in said switch-boxes, said sectional trolley conductors or cables being yieldingly supported; together with a yieldingly-supported trolley adapted to successively connect the sectional trolley conductors or cables to the current feeder or main as the car or vehicle passes over the road.

14. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables and switching devices for connecting said trolley conductors or cables to the current feeder or main, the opposite ends of said sectional conductors being secured by means located at points outside of the tram-rails.

15. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables provided with switching devices for connecting them to the current feeder or main; together with means for yieldingly maintaining said sectional trolley conductors or cables in a taut or strained condition and additional means for securing them at their opposite ends, said additional means being located at points outside of the tram-rails.

16. In an electric-railway system an insulated current feeder or main, a series of flexible sectional trolley conductors or cables and switching devices for connecting the same to the current feeder or main; together with yielding means for maintaining said flexible sectional conductors in a taut or strained condition, and retarding devices, as dash-pots, for preventing the switches from being turned to normal condition with damaging effects.

17. In an electric-railway system a current feeder or main; "a series of sectional trolleyconductors normally electrically disconnected therefrom; in combination with switches located in' water-tight switch-boxes and adapt ed to connect said sectional conductors to the current feeder or main as a car passes over the road together with a visual indicator operatively connected with each switch at a point wholly within the box and provided with nected in circuit with each switching device and adapted to connect the same with or disconnect it from the current feeder or main without opening the inclosing switch-box.

19. A system of electric railways embracing a current feeder or main and a series of sectional trolley or working conductors normally disconnected therefrom; in combination with water-tight switch-boxes inclosing switching devices for automically connecting said sectional conductors to and disconnecting them from the current feeder or main as a car passes over the route; together with a manual or hand circuit-interrupting switch for each box, the operating contacts of which are located within the same, while the oper ating-handle or controlling part thereof islocated on the outside thereof, whereby the circuit may be interrupted between the current feeder or main and the switch-operating mechanism without opening the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of September, 1899.

CHARLES J. KINTNER.

Witnesses:

' M. TURNER,

M. F. KEATING. 

